Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair says a core group of fewer than 2,000 people commit most of the gun violence in Toronto, and though progress has been made, there is still a problem of gun violence in the city.

“Seven people were struck by bullets and two lost their lives. It also impacted on a city’s sense of safety. Our public spaces must be places of safety,” he added.

Rejecting calls from Councillor Adam Vaughan for a handgun ban, the chief said he understands his concerns. “But I don’t see that (gun ban) would be a solution to the problem,” Blair told the board.

The chief later told reporters handguns are well regulated in Canada, with a system of licensing and registration.

“The permits to carry are very restrictive,” he said.

The chief said 30 per cent of the handguns seized in Toronto have been stolen or otherwise diverted from the hands of legitimate gun owners, adding that gun owners must bear some responsibility for their safe storage.

“They were once legal guns in Canada that became illegal,” he told reporters. “I think we need to do everything we can do keep those guns off the street.”

The other 70 per cent of guns seized are smuggled in from the United States, and the way to reduce that number is to do a better job of securing the border.

Earlier, Blair told the board that the city has seen a “spike” in gun violence this year, but the increase can be attributed to shootings where there are no victims.

Toronto has seen a 40 per cent increase in shooting calls this year, from 103 last year to 145 calls this year.

The chief attributed these shootings to intimidation or message shootings by gang members.

“I want to tell you there is still a problem of gun violence in this city, but we have made progress,” he said.

The chief noted that the major crime indicators show that the city is safer than it was in 2005 when he was appointed. Gun calls, for example, have dropped 33 per cent since then.

Blair said despite the successes, police are not relaxing.

“I do not mean to suggest by any means that low crime means no crime,” he told the board.

He said 13 people have been murdered this year in shootings, with 29 people suffering major injuries and 16 receiving minor injuries.

“These are precisely the same numbers as last year,” Blair said. “I’m not in any way trying to minimize the seriousness of these offences.”

Meanwhile, a brief Muslim prayer service was held in a Toronto mosque Friday afternoon for Nixon Nirmalendran, 22, who died Monday after being critically wounded in the Eaton Centre shooting.

The service lasted about 15 minutes and came at the end of regular prayer at the Danforth and Donlands Aves. area mosque.

Several friends and relatives attended the service. Afterward, Nirmalendran’s body was taken to a Toronto cemetery.

Nirmalendran, who went by the nickname “Nix,’’ was gunned down along with Ahmed Hassan, 24, in the mall’s basement food court. Nirmalendran suffered bullet wounds to his neck and chest.

Christopher Husbands, 23, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted murder and one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

Police have revealed that Nirmalendran, Hassan and Husbands are believed to all belong to the same gang. Sources have identified the gang as the Sic Thugs, which operates or operated in and around Regent Park.